Martin de PorresFoundation Unique to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Martin de Porres Foundation provides funding for many of the educational endeavors initiated in the interest of African American/Black Catholics.

KAIROS RETREAT: WEST CATHOLIC PREP H.S.– “GOD’S TIME”

April 30, 2017

By Michael Field, Director
Campus Ministry-West Catholic Prep H.S.

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment. The ancient Greeks had two words for time: Greek: Chronos and Kairos. Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time, Kairos signifies a period or season, a moment of indeterminate time in which an event of significance happens. What is happening when referring to Kairos depends on who is using the word. Ask 34 teenagers from West Catholic Prep, plus the twelve teens and adults on the leadership team what Kairos means and they will tell you “God’s time.”

Kairos is a retreat program held for juniors and seniors, where the participants take time away from their lives to reflect on self, God, and others. The participants separate themselves from Chronos time and enter into a process by which they do not tell time. This allows the work of the retreat to really take full effect and enter into a different time, a significant time, a time to let go and let God!

The gratitude for the support from St. Martin de Porres Foundation cannot be expressed greatly enough. The teenagers that came away from the retreat know the Love that God has for them and are not about to express it. Some of the participants have asked to pray continually, together, as a retreat community. The retreat experience does not just stop on the last day. They are challenged to “Live the 4th” day of the retreat for the rest of their lives. With your generous support, students at West Catholic Prep High School are able to live their lives to a different calling now that they experienced God in a real, true, and powerful way.

There is a new sense of hope, a new sense of change and purpose. Students interact differently with each other, faculty, staff and administration. The conversations that they have with parents have also changed. A simple recognition in a real, powerful way of the Living God shows teenagers their value, dignity and worth, as they were created.

The 46 participants at West Catholic Prep are ever indebted to your great generosity and they hope that with your support, they can share the retreat with their peers and classes to follow.